PERMANENT PEOPLES' TRIBUNAL, SESSION ON COLOMBIA ...

the rights of society and victims to know the truth, achieve justice, and receive
comprehensive reparation. Even though international bodies have repeatedly
recommended for concrete and effective actions to be taken to overcome
impunity, the State has yet to comply.
DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Due to the preceding, the Tribunal accuses:
1. The transnational oil enterprises British Petroleum, Occidental Petroleum
Corporation, Repsol YSP, and ECOPETROL:
• For oil exploration and exploitation policies, which result in the
forced displacement of the local populations.
• For oil exploration and exploitation policies lacking any evaluation
of the environmental impact and entailing the destruction of forests
and other natural spaces. (These policies have also resulted in the
grave and increasing contamination of water sources, such as the
Arauca River, which presumes a forced restriction on the ways of
living of the affected population.)
• For the creation of authentic areas of exclusion, which deny citizens
access to large areas surrounding the fields being exploited (areas
characterized by a virtual state of war and a disproportionate
militarization), This has been accomplished by resorting to regular
armed forces, private security companies, and even paramilitary
groups.
• For tolerance of -as well as collusion and coordination with- these
armed groups, directly through subcontracted enterprises, in the
persecution of those persons or collectives showing any kind of
opposition to oil industry activity or the conditions in which these
activities are carried out. This persecution is carried out through
false accusations, death threats, kidnappings, physical aggression,